Open English Translation JOB Chapter 31

31 I’ve made an agreement with my eyes,

≈about how I’ll be careful when I look at a young woman.

2 Yes, what would God serve out from above,

≈and what would our inheritance be from the provider on high?

3 Isn’t calamity intended for the disobedient,

≈and disaster for those who do evil?

4 Doesn’t God see my ways,

≈and count all my steps?

5 If I’ve walked the life of liars,

≈and my feet have rushed to be deceitful,

6 let him weigh me on his scales of justice,

and God will acknowledge my integrity.

7 If I have stepped off the path,

or my thoughts have followed my eyes,

or any stain can be seen on my hands,

8 let others eat the crops that I planted,

or let all my crops be pulled out.

9 If my heart has been enticed by a woman,

or I’ve watched for my chance at my neighbour’s door,

10 then may my wife prepare meals for someone else,

and may others take advantage of her.

11 Yes, that would be wicked,

and would be an evil deserving judgement.

12 It’s a fire that will devour Abaddon, ???

and it would uproot all of my harvest. ???

13 If I didn’t treat my male or female servants fairly,

when they bring their complaints against me,

14 then what would I do if God stood up to judge?

How would I answer when he came to me?

15 Didn’t the one who made me in the uterus, also make the servants?

≈Didn’t the same one form us in the womb?

16 If I’ve been stingy in meeting the needs of the poor,

or have allowed the widow’s EYES TO FAIL,

17 or if I ever ate my meal myself

while the orphan there had nothing to eat,

18 because he’d grown up with me like a father to him

and I’d guided the widow since I was very small.

19 If I ever saw someone dying from the cold due to lack of clothing,

or any needy person without a blanket,

20 if the poor haven’t blessed me,

or they haven’t warmed themselves with wool from my sheep,

21 if I’ve used my strength against the fatherless,

because I’d be supported by the elders from the city gate,

22 may my upper arm fall away from my shoulder blade,

≈and may my arm be broken out of its socket,

23 because calamity from God worries me,

and I can’t match his greatness.

24 If I’ve put my trust in gold,

≈and called fine gold my security,

25 if I’ve celebrated because of my great wealth,

≈and because I’ve been able to accumulate so much,

26 if I’ve seen the light when it shines,

and the moon advancing in its splendour,

27 and my heart was secretly enticed,

and my hand gave kisses from my hand,

28 this would also be an evil deserving judgement,[ref]

because I would have denied the God above.

29 If I’ve been happy at the ruin of someone who hated me,

or been glad because calamity found them,

30 I have not allowed my mouth to sin

by demanding their life in a curse.

31  Those who live in my home will declare

that no one has ever been denied food there.

32 No traveller has had to overnight outside on the street—

≈I’ve opened my doors to travellers.

33 If I’ve concealed my disobedience like others do,

≈by hiding my guilt in my chest,

34 because I feared how the big crowd would react,

≈and because being on the receiving end of the contempt of the clans terrified me,

then I’d remain silent and wouldn’t go outside,

35 If only I had someone to hear my case.

Look, here’s my signature.

May the provider answer me

and the indictment that my accuser has written.

36 If I didn’t display it up on my shoulder,

I’d tie it around my head like a crown.

37 I would have to give him an account of my every step.

Like a noble, I would go and approach him.

38 If my land cried out against me,

and the ploughed furrows wept together,

39 if I’ve eaten what it produces with paying fair wages,

or I’ve caused the death of its owners,

40 then let thornbushes grow up instead of wheat,

≈and let stinkweed grow up instead of barley.

(That finishes Iyyov’s response.)